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The cause of dysentery is usually the bacteria from genus Shigella, in which case it is known as shigellosis, or the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica; then it is called amoebiasis. [1] Other causes may include certain chemicals, other bacteria, other protozoa, or parasitic worms. [2] It may spread between people. [4]
It is sometimes listed as an explicit differential diagnosis of bacillary dysentery, as opposed to a cause. [6] Bacillary dysentery should not be confused with diarrhea caused by other bacterial infections. One characteristic of bacillary dysentery is blood in stool, [7] which is the result of invasion of the mucosa by the pathogen.
Shigellosis, known historically as dysentery, is an infection of the intestines caused by Shigella bacteria. [ 1 ] [ 3 ] Symptoms generally start one to two days after exposure and include diarrhea , fever , abdominal pain , and feeling the need to pass stools even when the bowels are empty. [ 1 ]
[3] [4] During infection, it typically causes dysentery. [5] Shigella is a leading cause of bacterial diarrhea worldwide, with 80–165 million annual cases (estimated) [6] and 74,000 to 600,000 deaths. [6] [7] It is one of the top four pathogens that cause moderate-to-severe diarrhea in African and South Asian children. [8]
The most commonly observed signs associated with Shigella dysentery include colitis, malnutrition, rectal prolapse, tenesmus, reactive arthritis, and central nervous system problems. Further, S. dysenteriae is associated with the development of hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which includes anemia, thrombocytopenia, and kidney failure.
Shigella flexneri is a species of Gram-negative bacteria in the genus Shigella that can cause diarrhea in humans. Several different serogroups of Shigella are described; S. flexneri belongs to group B. S. flexneri infections can usually be treated with antibiotics, although some strains have become resistant.
Erythromycin can be used in children, and tetracycline in adults. Some studies show, however, that erythromycin rapidly eliminates Campylobacter from the stool without affecting the duration of illness. Nevertheless, children with dysentery due to C. jejuni benefit from early treatment with erythromycin. Treatment with antibiotics, therefore ...
Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) produces a toxin that acts on the intestinal lining, and is the most common cause of traveler's diarrhea. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) can cause diarrhea outbreaks in newborn nurseries. Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) can cause acute and chronic (long-lasting) diarrhea in children.